The leprechaun is the elf on the shelf of March. Thankfully, it is only one day — though I’m sure some entrepreneurial parent is going to find a way to make us pay good money for a tradition we never wanted to start in the first place. There will be leprechaun poop for sale before you know it.

When my kids told me they wanted to build a leprechaun trap, I thought it was adorable and creative, until I realized it was the new hot thing. Seems everyone is not only building a trap, but everyone is failing in the capture of the little green guy, who leaves their houses in chaos.

I’ve adopted the “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” parenting mentality in my old age. In the interest of saving you some creative energy expenditure, here are some ideas for leprechaun leftovers.

1.Turn on bagpiper music before they wake up.

2.Put green food dye in the toilet. Leps pee green, don’tcha know!

3. Scatter Lucky Charms on the kitchen floor.

4. Leave a rummaged through wallet or coin jar on the floor, as your leprechaun was definitely looking for some gold.

5.Put chocolate coins where you normally leave money. Silly lep thought he could trick you into not noticing the substitution.

12. Draw green mustaches with dry erase markers on the glass of family portraits.

12.Leave a couple empty cans of Guinness crushed on the floor.

13.Make muddy or green footprints leading from the door with some mud and your thumbprint. Of course, you’ll have to sprinkle some green glitter on them for authenticity.

Anything goes.Have some fun with it and let your imagination run wild. Yes, the clean up is a bear, but hey, at least you don’t have shelf and elf for 25 days. Remember, the angrier you are at that rotten, trouble making green guy, the more believable the whole thing will be!

Karen is a Family Physician, founder and president of Tips From Town. She loves combining all she learned as a doctor with all she continues to learn as a mom of five to bring you interesting, useful and fun information on the Family Pages.